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Endocrine disruptors: Be afraid, be very afraid...

Endocrine
disruptors are one of the KEY reasons so many people are turning to certified
organic skin care and organic or spray-free food.

There are
growing concerns about the presence of these sneaky little chemicals in
everything from skin care products to plastic packaging and pesticides,
household cleaning products and flame retardants (in clothing, mattresses and
carpets).

Endocrine
disrupting chemicals or EDCs are synthetic chemicals (and in some cases natural
chemicals derived from products like soy) that mimic the body’s natural
hormones.

Organisations such as the National Institute of Health (NIH) and the National
Environmental Health Agency (NEHA) in the US, as well as the World Health
Organisation (WHO) have listed endocrine disruptors as a primary health
concern.

Research is showing that hormone disruptors,
in both humans and wildlife, are having harmful effects on:

growth and development

reproduction

neurologic/brain development

immunity

metabolism

What exactly do hormones do?

Your
hormones are chemical messengers that travel throughout the body coordinating
complex processes like growth, metabolism, and fertility. They can influence
the function of the immune system, and even alter behavior.

The
endocrine system is the term given to the body's network of
glands that produce more than 50 different known hormones or chemical
messengers to maintain and regulate basic bodily functions.

It is second only
to the nervous system as the great controlling system of the body.

The brain signals
when its time for the glands to release hormones directly into the bloodstream,
but endocrine disrupting chemicals interfere with this process.

What’s so disruptive about endocrine disruptors?

Some endocrine
disruptors are hormone mimics and send false signals to the body’s hormone
receptor cells – signals that are not commanded by the brain. Others block the
action of natural hormones, preventing them from binding to their receptor cells,
thus making them ineffectual. Endocrine disruptors can also alter the amount of
hormone synthesised.

Of
major concern is the impact of exposure to endocrine disruptors on a developing
embryo or a baby through the placenta or breastmilk. The World Health
Organisation says: "Pregnant mothers and children are the most vulnerable
populations to be affected by developmental exposures, and the effect of
exposures to EDCs may not become evident until later in life. Research also
shows that it may increase the susceptibility to non-communicable diseases.”

There’s also concern
EDCs can cause hormonal functioning in adults, though in its report State of the
Science of Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals 2012, the WHO says this
evidence is currently weak and more research needs to be done: "The evidence that high-level exposure
may impact both humans and wildlife indicates that this potential mechanism of
toxicity warrants our attention. Uncertainty over the possible effects of
chronic, low-level exposures to a number of chemicals with endocrine- disrupting
potential and the fundamental roles played by the endocrine system in
maintaining homeostasis make understanding the potentialeffects posed by exposure to these
chemicals an obvious international priority.”

OK I'm freaked out, what can I do?

1. Minimise your use of plastic packaging, which
contains EDCs like phthalates and BPA (bisphenol A). Click here to read our
blog post about the dangers of plastic packaging and read this postabout how to reduce your exposure to phthalates.

2. Store food in glass or stainless steel
containers.

3. Switch to certified organic skin care,
cosmetics, toothpaste and deodorant: A report on the
endocrine disrupting chemicals in old order Mennonite women in mid-pregnancy
determined that they have much lower levels in their systems than the general
population. Mennonites eat mostly fresh, unprocessed foods, farm without
pesticides, and use few or no cosmetics or personal care products. One woman
who had reported using hairspray and perfume had high levels of monoethyl
phthalate, while the other women all had levels below detection.

4. Avoid perfume and synthetic fragrances such
as those in air fresheners and fabric softeners. As we wrote about here ,
they usually contain parabens, which are known endocrine disruptors, along with
thousands of other chemicals not proven to be safe for human use.

Do you think our governments and health organisations should be doing more to reduce our exposure to endocrine disruptors?

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Hi, I'm Mukti, the founder and creator of Mukti Organics. My aim is to assist you in achieving beautiful, radiant skin without using products containing toxic chemicals. Certified organic skin care is better for you, your family and our planet. Click here to sign up and receive 15% off your first order. Signing up and commenting on our blog posts enters you into our bimonthly draw to receive $150 worth of products of your choice.